This week, two new victims in Pompeii were found trying to save their valuables, but unfortunately they couldn’t save themselves, everyone is surprised that the famous Stonehenge altar stone does not come from Wales as thought, but somewhere else, and now we know where the asteroid that gave birth to the dinosaurs is. Finally, we delve into who made the oldest human burial site.
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Stonehenge’s famous altar stone may be from Scotland, over 700 kilometers away
The Altar Stone at Stonehenge may not come from Wales as thought, but rather from northeast Scotland, at least 700 kilometers (434 miles) away from its final placement in southwest England. It’s not clear how prehistoric people managed to transport the 6-tonne rock to the other side of the British Isles, but new research adds further intrigue to the history of the famous Neolithic site. Read the full story here
Scientists drill 1,268 meters deep under the Atlantic Ocean, extracting a large part of the Earth’s mantle
Humans have drilled a record 1,268 meters (4,160 feet) into Earth’s mantle, giving scientists an incredible glimpse into the planet’s deep geology – and possibly the origins of life. The drill hole was made in a volcanically active region of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge located along the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. Read the full story here
Two young victims of Pompeii were found clutching coins and jewelry as they met their doom
The discovery of two skeletons at the doomed ancient site of Pompeii has enabled researchers to reconstruct the last moments of panic of those who lost their lives during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Identified as a young man and a middle-aged woman, the pair appear to have been trapped in a room in which they sought refuge, before disappearing in a swift stream of scorching volcanic gases.. Read the full story here
Humanity Could Use “The Shining” To Terraform Mars (And Add A Little Razzle Dazzle)
If future humans consider living on Mars, instead of global warming being a problem, we will actually have to artificially warm the planet to make it livable for us. There have been many proposals for how to do this, from chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to fluorinated versions of methane, ethane and propane. But these ingredients are rare on Mars, making them less practical for the grand project of terraforming. A new team has a different suggestion which compares brilliantly in size. Read the full story here
The dinosaur-killing impactor was probably a rare asteroid from beyond Jupiter
Minerals left behind when the Chicxulub crater formed, ending the Cretaceous era and the reign of the dinosaurs, indicate it was an asteroid, not a comet. However, the same analysis shows that it came from the outer Solar System, rather than the main asteroid belt, knowledge that is helpful, if frustrating, in trying to prevent the next such event. Read the full story here
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Feature of the week:
What is the oldest human burial site in the world?
People today expect a myriad of funerary practices to remember and honor the dead, but which is the earliest we know, who did it, and what does it tell us about early human behavior? Read the full story here
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